Love Yourself(ie) available on Amazon. http://www.amazon.com/Love-Yourself-Lessons-Building-Charisma/dp/1523393890

CHICAGO, Feb. 16, 2016 /PRNewswire/ -- To help preteens, ages 9 to 13, prevent social media from deflating self-worth, a new book, titled Love Yourself(ie), Life Lessons for Building Kid Charisma™, is available today on Amazon. With a focus on self-love, the book teaches 'what we think of ourselves matters most' and how to use self-acceptance to keep others from influencing bad feelings or behaviors.

Although navigating friendships, belonging, self-image and bullying has long been part of growing up, social media today makes the experience public – which is fueling record levels of preteen insecurity and acceptance-seeking behaviors that range from obsessing over appearance to taking down unpopular posts in tears. Love Yourself(ie) is a fictional story of a young girl, named Harper, who learns to use self-acceptance to filter social media and manage peer pressure and competition. Endorsed by leading child development experts, educators, parents and preteens, the book is a highly relatable story kids see themselves in, with a practical perspective and advice they can use to understand what they are feeling and become more confident and true to themselves – on social media and in life.

"Kids thrive when they don't give others power over them," said Dr. Julie Carbray, Clinical Professor of Psychiatry and Nursing at the University of Illinois at Chicago. "Social-emotional challenges in middle school can leave preteens questioning who they are and how to act – at an age when character development is being shaped and, now, social media is publicly testing the strength of that character. Love Yourself(ie) is a wonderful resource for kids, parents and educators, offering much needed perspective not only on what preteens are 'really' facing but also the importance of building self-acceptance and character strength as a solution."

Written by Chicago business executive Andrea A. Lewis in collaboration with renown beauty expert Nicole Pearl, both of whom are moms, Love Yourself(ie) fills a gap the two saw in resources to make social media a more positive experience. The story is derived from life lessons that shape Andrea's character strength, infused with Nicole's expertise on the relationship between self-esteem and beauty, and dedicated to all preteens – and the parents, educators and youth advocates who care about their well-being – growing up in the digital age.

"This book is for everyone who wants the best for kids," said Andrea A. Lewis, author, Love Yourself(ie), Life Lessons for Building Kid Charisma™. "How we handle life experiences begins with what we believe about ourselves, and my spunky daughters at ages 8 and 5 are examples of the good that comes from developing self-love, determination and resilience early-on. All kids deserve that emotional advantage and Love Yourself(ie) is a platform to inspire it."

Added Nicole Pearl, book contributor and beauty expert known as The Beauty Girl:

"For many preteens, social media is a popularity contest that leaves them feeling left out and bad about themselves. Love Yourself(ie) instills self-love as our best accessory, and shows kids how to build it within themselves. In fact, to quote 10- and 13-year-old girls who read the story for us: 'The pressure and insecurities Harper feels are so much like what we experience, so the advice in the story and seeing how she used it made us feel better and more confident.'"

Love Yourself(ie) is available in print and Kindle versions for $9.99, on Amazon.